The authors of a new study in the Journal of Archaeological Science used portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) analyzers to determine the chemical composition of 91 Bronze Age and Early Iron Age iron objects, excavated at 33 different sites and kept in 19 museums. They discovered the presence of nickel, which is a common component in meteorites but rare in smelted iron. Most of these items were rings derived from funerary contexts of the wealthy. The rings typically combined meteoric iron with gold, silver, or bronze, and accompanied other gold vessels, jewelry, and carved stone seals, indicating the high social status of the individuals who owned them. The authors conclude that these meteoric iron rings were status symbols for Minoan and Mycenaean leaders.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440326001524
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